Cage farming of Nile tilapia in Lake Kivu (Rwanda)

Fish production from capture fishery in Rwanda is not sufficient to meet the local demand and hence the gap between supply and demand is filled by fish imports.

Cage farming (known locally as kareremba) has been found a viable means to increase fish production in Rwanda and hence this activity has been encouraged whereas cages have been recently placed in in Lake Kivu and other lakes in Rwanda.

It is estimated that at least 1% of the Lake Kivu water is used for cage farming that has been supported by PAIGELAC and organized by cooperatives in the neighboring districts of Karongi, Rusizi, Nyamasheke and Rubavu. The Size of cages ranges from 8m3 to 27m3. Cage farming has been also adopted by companies that are operating in Lake Kivu.

Water temperature of Lake Kivu (250C) is considered optimum for Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus which is the species of choice in cage farming in the lake.

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